Arthur Phillip Chapter of the Fellowship of the first Fleeters
  • Welcome
    • About Arthur Phillip Chapter
    • Chapter Membership
    • Contact Us
    • Roll of members' First Fleeters
    • My Heritage, a Colonial Family’s Story >
      • Index of Contents
      • Weavers, James Part 1
      • Weavers, James Part 2
    • Snippets of History >
      • Sydney Observatory
      • La Perouse & First Fleet Park, Matraville
      • Vaucluse House
      • Sydney's first post office
      • Battle of Waterloo
      • Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
      • South Head's history
      • Sir Henry Parkes
      • Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
      • Memorials in Westminster Abbey & Citation
      • First Fleet Park, Wallabadah NSW
  • Meetings
    • About our Meetings & Activities
    • Calendar of Events
    • Location, how to get there
    • Recent Events & Activities >
      • Report Excursion to Victoria Barracks
      • Report on FFF 50th Anniversary Lunch
      • Report on Aust Day Lunch
      • Report on Remembrance Day 10.11.17
      • Report on Ships & Shore cruise 2.11.17
      • Charge of Australian Light Horse at Beersheva WW1
      • Chapter 7th anniversary luncheon
      • Report on visit to La Perouse and First Fleet Park, Matraville
      • Report on visit to Vaucluse House
      • Report on 3-chapter visit to Kiama
      • Report on Pioneer Park official opening
  • Fellowship of First Fleeters
    • About Fellowship of First Fleeters
    • About the First Fleet
    • Health of the First Fleet
    • Weather Secrets
    • Map of the First Fleet Voyage
    • How to write FFF biographical profiles
  • Governor Arthur Phillip
    • Phillip's Early Years
    • Arthur Phillip: Speech by Dr Stephen Cunneen
    • Exploration of Middle Harbour Creek
    • Exploration of Manly & Harbour
    • Governor Phillip Lookout & Memorial at Beacon Hill
    • Exploration of Lane Cove River
    • The Phillip Bricks
  • Research & Study
    • Research Guidelines
    • Websites for Family History Research
    • Government Websites for Social History Research >
      • Australian Constitution
    • Websites for Historical & Family Heritage Societies
    • Overseas Websites for Family History Research
    • Free Build Your Own FamilyTree Websites
    • Chapter Library & Catalogue
    • MORE >
      • Chapter Policies
      • Acknowledgements
FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH:  Getting started  

Tracing one’s ancestors can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. Genealogy gives an appreciation of your ancestors as you research and record your Family Tree and put your findings in context with social history of their era.   

Note: The websites supplied within RESEARCH pages are not linked by clicking.  Copy and paste the quoted URL to your own search engine.

Golden rules of genealogy
  1. ALWAYS work backwards from the known (yourself) to your forebears
  2. NEVER believe everything on a Birth, Death or Marriage certificate 
  3. NEVER completely trust the spelling of surnames, place names etc
  4. ALWAYS check surname variants when researching
  5. ALWAYS have at least two separate sources of proof for each event
  6. REMEMBER that everything is only speculation until verified
  7. ALWAYS photocopy or scan certificates and important documents and leave the originals in a safe place
  8. IF a document exists, read it, and record its reference
  9. SHARE your information and documentation (copies only) with other researchers.  Once you have established direct lineage to a First Fleeter, join the Fellowship of First Fleeters and your local Chapter (Arthur Phillip Chapter for the northern areas of Sydney)
  10. JOIN at least one Family History Group, Genealogy or Historical Society (our closest is Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, in rooms nearby)
  11. RECORD meticulously all sources and references no matter how innocuous – to find it again may prove to be impossible; and it may be essential to have this information to verify your findings
  12. TAKE your research in stages, maintain your focus on your objective – be patient as family research can be frustrating and expensive.  
  13. There are many web sites and history publications available to assist with your research, but always apply the golden rules when researching and using information available on the Internet and in printed matter.

Source:  Australian Family Tree Connections Magazine, December 2011.

 © Arthur Phillip Chapter of Fellowship of First Fleeters 2018-

Image:  Display board at First Fleet Park, Wallabadah NSW
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